If you are alive and breathing and are somewhat familiar with technology, chances are you are a part of some sort of WhatsApp group. It could be a family group, a group with friends or even a high school carpool group. Teaneck resident Jacob Herenstein, 22, has taken the WhatsApp group to a whole new level. Move over Uber, Teaneck Rides WhatsApp is the way to travel.
With 143 members and growing, this WhatsApp group has been a tremendous help to local college students, as well as to their parents who aren’t always in the mood to drive their kids back to school. “Oren Leben started it in May of 2014, and brought me on as an administrator to help run and expand the group. Over time, the group has helped facilitate thousands of rides to and from Teaneck and Yeshiva University (and other places, such as the Five Towns, Queens, etc.),” according to Herenstein.
Herenstein graduated from Yavneh Academy and The Frisch School and then spent a year and a half learning in Israel at Yeshivat Sha’alvim. Now, he is a student at the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University.
Not only is his group helpful for his own demographic, the college student who needs to get back to school, but Herenstein says others can also benefit. Sometimes, magical things can happen from something as simple as getting a ride somewhere. “Ironically enough, one of my friends got a ride with someone going to Teaneck about a year ago, and met a girl from out of town in the car. They started talking en route to Teaneck, and decided to exchange phone numbers after the ride. They ended up going out, and now they are engaged and are getting married in May. Who knew that a shidduch would result from a WhatsApp group?” Herenstein shared.
Herenstein is a member of 45 different groups on WhatsApp; he is an administrator of 31 of them. “I have been asked on occasion to make groups for classes that I am not a part of, due to the amount of numbers I have saved on my phone from all these other WhatsApp groups. I make the group, and then leave it a minute later, appointing someone else to take charge of the group. I don’t do this because I feel obligated to; rather, I do it purely out of the kindness of my heart. I know that others benefit tremendously from it, so why not?” Interested in finding out about free food on campus? There is the “Free Pizza Group.” Clever and helpful to those students who are on a tight budget. Herenstein has also started groups for Frisch alumni, intramural basketball games and Chaverim of Washington Heights. Heights Parking is the one group he is in that is at its maximum capacity of 256 people; it is for those looking for parking spots around the Yeshiva University campus.
Being a leader has always been in his blood. Herenstein was the Director of Operations at Camp Lavi for three years and Vice President of Yeshiva University’s Student Government. This winter, this Teaneck native decided to take his interest in community activities one step further and run for Teaneck Town Council. He was on the ballot for the recent May 10 election.
By Banji Ganchrow
